Washing-machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I. R. B. WILKINSON.

WASHING MACHINE. I No. 351,237. Patented Oct. 19, 1886.

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WASHING MACHINE. No. 351,237. Patented Oct. 19, 1886.

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RICHARD B. XVILKINSON, OF TONGANOXIE, KANSAS.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 351,237, dated October 19, 1886.

Application filed February 24, 1886. Serial No. 193,038.

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD B. WILKIN- soN, of Tonganoxie, in the county of Leavenworth and Stateof Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in \Vashing- Machines; and I do hereby declare the follo wing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in washing-machines; and it consistsin the combination of the tub, a pump connected thereto for alternately drawing the water down and then forcing it up through the clothes, two valved, perforated, and latticed partitions, which are placed horizontally in the tub, and suitable deviees,whioh are secured to the inner sides of the tubs, so as to hold the partitions in place, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to produce a machine by means of which the clothes can be thoroughly cleansed without the necessity of having to rub or agitate them in any other way than by forcing the water back and forth through them by means of a pump or other equivalent mechanism.

Figure l is a vertical section of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective of one of the partitions alone.

A represents a tub of any suitable construe tion, and which is raised a suitable distance above the floor by means of the legs 13. Connected to this tub at one side is a suitable pump, 0, in which a solid piston works air and water tight. The lower end of this pump is connected by a suitable branch pipe, D, with the center of the bottom of the tub, so that the pump can alternately draw the water from the bottom of the tub through the branch pipe into the bottom of the'pump, and then force it back from the pumpinto the tub and up through the clothes again. Secured to the inner side of the tub near its bottom are suitable supports, E, upon which the lower partitiomF, rests. Two of these supports simply serve to support the partition in position, while the other two serve to prevent the partition from being moved vertically until the partition has (No model.)

been turned into position, so that the notches made in its edge will allow it to be raised upward. In either placing the partition in position or removing it from the tub the partition must first be turned so as to bring the notches in its edge in a line with the supports. The supports for this lower partition, F, admit of no adjustment of the partition, but simply hold it raised a suitable distance above the bottom of the tub, and upon the top of which the clothes are placed for the purpose of hav ing the water forced back and forth through them by means of the pump.

For the purpose of holding the clothes in position on the lower partition, and thus pre venting them from being displaced by the movement of the water, and to hold them so that the water will be forced back and forth through them, the upper partition, H, is used. This partition also has notches I cut in its edges, so as to catch over the racks J, which are secured to opposite sides of the tub, and between which racks the edges of this upper par tition are made to catch, for the purpose of holding the partition tightly in place. By means of the racks this upper partition can be adjusted vertically, so as to adapt itself to the amount of clothes placed in the tub to be washed. WVhere there is but asmall quantity of clothes the upper partition will be lowered in the tub, so as to prevent the clothes having any more vertical movement than possible while the water is being forced back and forth through them.

Both the partitions are constructed alike, and each one is provided with a series of holes, G, and a central valve, L. In order to control the movement of the water and to compel it to pass as evenly as possible through all parts of the clothes, each hole G is separated from the other holes by means of cross pieces or projections N, which are placed upon the inner sides of the partitions.

\Vhen the pump piston is depressed, the water rises through the two partitions and the clothes, the lower valve rising to allow the water to pass freely through into the clothes, while the upper valve closes upward to prevent the water passing up through the upper partition too freely, and then this upper valve drops down from its own weight and the weight of water upon it to allow the water to pass freely down into and through the clothes when the motion of the piston is reversed. The two valves are hinged at one side to their respective partitions and always operate in opposite directions. By having thelower valve closed when the water is being drawn down through the clothes the water is prevented from being too freely drawn away from the clothes, and

they are thus always kept full. of water.

There are no holes made through the central portions of the partitions, except the ones placed upon the inner sides of the partitions F and H. The'clothes being held away from the openings and valves, the water can be forced freely back and forth through them, so as to thoroughly clean them without having to rub, press, or agitate them in such a manner as to injure themin any way. The hot water being forced continuously back and forth through the clothes dissolves the dirt and carries it away without the slightest injury to the clothes.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-- 1. The combination of the tub, the pump connected thereto, and the two partitions placed in the tub, each one. of the partitions being provided with perforations, and valves and a lattice-work upon its inner side, substantially as shown.

2. The combination of the tub, the pump connected thereto, suitable supports secured to the inner sides of the tub to hold the partitions in place, the two partitions provided with perforations and valves, cross-partitions for separating the holes, and the slats which are placed upon the cross-partitions, so as to keep the clothes out of contact with the partitions and valves, substantially as described.

RICHARD B. .WILKINSON.

WVitnesses:

CHARLES GREER. JAMES H. BROWN. 

